DEVON (ENGLAND) (TIP): A farm in southwest England has started growing Naga chillies — Bhut Jolokia – – for the first time on the British soil after years of trial and error.

The South Devon Chilli Farm’s whole stock of 300 kg of Bhut Jolokia, which is cultivated mainly in northeastern states of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur, this year was finished within weeks.

The farm owner, Steve Waters, told TOI it was incredibly difficult to grow the Naga chillies, which the Guinness Book of World Records had certified as the world’s hottest chilli in 2007.

He said it takes Bhut Jolokia seven months to grow from seed to ripe fruit and is fiercely hot. “The demand for the chilli in Britain has been rocketing and we have finally managed to grow it on British soil in large volumes.” 

Waters said people do not have to bank on dried Naga chillies imported from India but can buy them fresh, plucked straight from the farm.

“This is the first year we have started selling the fruit and have already become hugely popular. We are also making super fiery sauces from the Naga chilli.”